Mild afternoons, under mostly sunny conditions, prevailed through midweek. On Wednesday, February 25, high temperatures rose into the mid 70's to around 80 degrees. The early warmth of air and ground has resulted in many varieties of plant life reaching a flowering stage. Passing showers were observed on Thursday and Friday. A weak frontal boundary helped in the development of thunderstorms early on Saturday. By the time the boundary reached the coast, storms had produced 1 inch hail in Beaufort and Charleston counties. Sunday ended the week with a return to bright, sunny skies and slightly cooler weather. Statewide temperatures averaged 5 degrees above normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The maximum observed temperature was 80 degrees on February 28 at Givhans Ferry. The minimum observed temperature was 23 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of February 24. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Sumter with 1.00" ending at 7 a.m. on February 28. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 1.5 inches.
Precipitation
Period 1997 Deviation* Temperature
Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum
Greer 1.36 13.7 5.0A 73 36
Charlotte, NC 0.79 9.6 1.9A 75 39
Columbia 0.89 13.2 4.5A 76 36
Florence FAA 1.10 11.7 4.8A 74 42
Blackville 2.02 14.3 5.8A 77 36
Augusta, GA NA 13.9 5.4A 76 36
Beaufort 2.14 16.9 9.8A 76 46
Charleston 0.98 17.8 10.9A 79 43
Myrtle Beach 2.07 18.5 10.4A 72 43
*A=Above, B=Below
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m. Monday through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY
Degree Days
Actual
Feb. 1-28
Cooling Heating
Columbia 0 420
Charleston 6 319
Greenville 0 496
Temperatures are expected to average near to above normal for the week. Rainfall is expected to be near to above normal.RIVERS AND SURF
River stages are above normal. Several eastern rivers are in flood.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 56 degrees.